What Is The Americans With Disabilities Act ?

What is the Americans with Disabilities Act? Who is protected under the Act?

The Americans with Disabilities Act is intended to make businesses available and accessible to those who have disabilities. The Act was passed in 1990 and is the first law for those who have disabilities in the United States. The purpose of the Act is ban any event or facility that does not allow equal opportunities for those with disabilities. The Act mainly affects every facility that falls into the following categories: public and private transportation, government programs and services, employment, telecommunications, and places where the public is invited.

Someone is considered to be a person with a disability if he or she has a physical or mental impairment that limits a major life activity. People with histories of these types of impairments are also affected by this Act. Disabilities included in this Act includes those with cerebral palsy, epilepsy, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, cancer, heart disease, diabetes, mental retardation, psychiatric disorder, learning disabilities, HIV, tuberculosis, drug problems, alcoholism, and visual, speech and hearing disorders.

Most of these public accommodations that need to comply with the ADA needed to have their changes in effect by 1992. These businesses cannot ask a disabled person to leave the facility because someone else feels uncomfortable with him or her in that area. Businesses cannot limit those with disabilities to attend only certain shows, performances, or theater exhibits. In general, the ADA is the law that tells businesses that all patrons of their facilities, centers, or programs must be treated equally.